Tire-armor.



R. W. WELTY.

TIRE ARMOR. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1908.

Patented June 15.1909.

Wi names RUFUS W. lYliLlY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

TIREsARMOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, 1909.

Application led August 12, 1908. Sera1 No. 448,213.

v conveniently applied to automobile tires and lwhich will effectively serve to prevent pncturin of `the same.

A irh'er object of the present invention is toprovide a protector that can be applied to the tread of the tire and which will include means to prevent skidding and sliding asis common with the ordinary form of tire.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is better disclosed, and changes within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings7 forming a portion of the specification and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts inthe several views; Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of an automobile wheel showing the application of the armor or protector thereto, parts beingin section, Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View, Fig. 3 is a plan view ofone of the segments looking at the under side thereof, Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View through one of thestuds showing its application to partsv of lthe armor.

Referring now more'particularly to the drawings, there is shown a portion -of a vehicle wheel 1 having the usu'al rim 2 upon which is mounted a tire 3.. The tire 3 in the present instance is of the clencher type, but the application of my invention is not directed particularly to this form of tire. The tire is provided with my improved armor or protector 4 which consists of"a4 layerl of canvas which'is treated' with a non-absorbent preparation, and as shown, this layer is curved transversely to conform to the "curvature of the tire, and mounted upon this layer of canvas is shown an annular band 6 of spring steel or the like.

The band 6, in diameter, is somewhat less than the layer 5 of canvas and its-ends are the I thus disposed inwardly ofthe ends of said layer of canvas. The .band has formed therein a pluralit of passages 7, and portions of said ban -around said passages are pressed outwardly as shown at 8 to provide oups or cavities for the reception of heads 9 carried by studs 10. The studs 10 project radially from the tread and side portions of the tire 3, and their purpose will be hereinafter more fully referred to.

A pluralityof spring steel members 11 are disposed upon the band 6, and these members are of substantially V-form and are curved transversely to conform to the curvature of the tire 3. The leg members 12 of the members 11 have formed integral therewith arms 13 having hooked ends 14, as

shown.. The edge portions of the legs 12 are provided with semicircular notches 15, and the notches' in the legs of one member are thus adapted to aline lwith the notches formed in' the legs of its adjacent member to formcircular passages for the reception of the studs 10. A cover 10al of leather or rubber is located outwardly of the members 11 andreceives the outer ends of the studs 10. The cover, at its edges is riveted as indicated at 16 to the layer of canvas 5 previously4 described. The studs are provided at their outer ends with washers 17 in which are formed conical passages 18 for lreceiving correspondingly shaped headsl 19 of the studs.

In kassembling'the washers and studs it may be mentioned that said studs are of an equal diameter throughout, leaving a portion projecting' through' the passages 18 formed in said washer, after which said portions may be mashed to form the conical heads 19,as shown in Fig. 4 ofI the drawings.- v

The provision of the washers is such that form heads at the outer ends of the sti ds to effectively engage the surface. in the travel of the tire and prevent skidding or sliding as will be readily understood.- The hooked ends 14 of the arms-13 are adapted to receive annulanbands or rings 20 located outwardly of Ethe irim of the wheel and effectively serve to retain' the armor to the tire.

The armor as herein set forth and described is extremely simple in construction may be conveniently applied to automobile tires or the like and effectively prevents and having their ed es disposed between i0 -puucturing or mutilation -of the tire as is the shnulsof said studs. y apparent. I'n testimony whereof l alix my signature Having thus described the invention, what iu prescrire of two Witnesses.

` Y RUFUs W. WELTY.

5 is claimed :is 110W is A tire armor comprising a bandof spring material, a casing, a plurality of studs carried by the band, and a plurality of V-shaped members disposed in the casing lVitnesses HARRY J. LASR, H. L. Toon. 

